Photo: Woodlot · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Mississippi, Gulfport is healthier than 48% of graded towns
Gulfport trails Mississippi on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gulfport. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gulfport
Gulfport looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 48% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 11% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Gulfport scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Gulfport’s D, from Biloxi (C+) to Long Beach (B). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gulfport
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (14.3% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 18.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Gulfport is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gulfport is healthier than 11%. Against the 5,767 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 27%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Mississippi figure falls outside Gulfport’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Gulfport’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gulfport is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #53 of 101 in Mississippi. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 24% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 3%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Gulfport’s median household income is $49,919; among the 5,767 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Gulfport and the towns around it
Gulfport’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | D | 39.7% | 16% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Biloxi | C+ | 35.1% | 13.5% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Long Beach | B | 32.6% | 11.9% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Lyman | B− | 34.7% | 11.5% | 15% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.3% of Gulfport adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Gulfport adults…
On every condition, Gulfport is about the same as Mississippi. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gulfport
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Gulfport, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gulfport; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Gulfport adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Gulfport adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Gulfport adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gulfport adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gulfport
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gulfport is better than Mississippi on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Gulfport’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gulfport | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27%24.2–29.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.1–17.5 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.7–20.7 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%34–45.2 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14.1–17.9 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 44.7%40.9–48.3 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.3–42.9 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.9–31.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.5 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.2%8.2–10.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.1 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.9%18.5–25.7 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.6–21.1 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38.9%34.7–43.2 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.1%10.8–15.5 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%37.2–47.7 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%11.6–15 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.4–84.3 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83–86.7 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%76–81 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.4%54.5–64.1 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.7%63.2–77.6 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18–24.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%32.8–41.7 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.3%26.8–34 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27%24.4–29.6 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%17.4–21.6 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%12.3–15.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.3%13–15.8 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.3%16.3–20.3 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%37.1–45 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.2%18.1–22.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%17.3–21.1 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%7.6–8.9 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.4–12.7 | 10.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.7–6.7 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Gulfport
Is Gulfport a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gulfport is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #53 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gulfport?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 45.2%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gulfport?
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport in Gulfport, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Gulfport’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gulfport have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–15%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Gulfport more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gulfport.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.